Work at Middlehopeshield mine

Work has been completed at Middlehopeshield ore works as part of the Land of Lead and Silver project.

The consolidation work at the Scheduled Monument, which was carried out by Heritage Consolidation Ltd under the guidance of conservation architects, Doonan Architects, has secured it for the future.

As part of the work sections of the path from Low Slitt lead mine to Middlehopeshield have been repaired to improve access to the site, which is also an SSSI. Volunteers helped to get materials and tools to this quite inaccessible site. They also carried out walling to shore up areas of collapsing footpath and work to consolidate the footpath, procured an oak bench, controlled vegetation, and created hardstanding for interpretation panels.

New interpretation panels have been installed which cover the geology, mining heritage and flora of the site. The three panels were created in consultation with the local community in Westgate and with contributions from volunteers – Ian Forbes, who wrote the history panel text, and Nick Unwin and Jason Hall, who contributed photographs. Thanks also to Darren Fletcher.

The work at Middlehopeshield was funded by Rural England Prosperity Fund, Defra’s Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Land of Lead and Silver project is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players, and Historic England.